Advice on leaving puppy

[Flumpkin]

Hi all, well 4 weeks in and going fairly well , but I am in need of some
advice please. Our pup is crate trained so will happily go in to sleep, crate still in our bedroom, but we bring it down it day and use for occasional 15 sec timeouts when very bitey and for naps (although also has naps outside or cuddled on us too). No accidents in crate, he gets me up a couple of times in night and so far so good!

However I am worried that we have not left him at all as we have to keep eye on him as he eats everything. Garden is a nightmare with twigs and small stones. He is left to settle for naps in day in crate in different room, as he settles we do walk through usually ignore if barking or whining but reward with few bits of kibble and a good boy if settling.

I am concerned though about separation anxiety and feel I should start leaving for 2 mins while I leave house and build it up so eventually could leave him up to an hour? I have a cat and another dog too. He chases the cat who so far when cornered has batted him with soft paws but could swipe at some point, and the dog has had a few goes at him, a bit more than a grumble, lots of squealing form pup and noise from dog but no damage done.

I want to keep them all safe if leave them. Also my house is not puppy friendly enough. I have no room I can really leave him in, we are carpeted and kitchen is not fitted so can get behind to wires etc.

I have a very large crate (not the one he uses) that our older dog came with when we took him in 7 years ago. We only crated him like previous owner for a week or so as realised he was a good boy and let him sleep where he wanted and have run of downstairs when we were out.

Do you think I can use bigger crate as safe area when we go out for pup. I think he may mess in it as too large? How do I introduce it and the going out?

Ang advice welcome

love flump x

 

[JoanneF]

You could try the large crate or you can get dog play pens that you can make pretty much as big as you want (they come in joinable pieces) just to keep him away from things. You will only be leaving him for moments to start with so messing in it shouldn’t be a problem.

Before you start leaving him, it’s a good idea to build up to it by playing Emma Judson’s Flitting Game, described about 2/3 of the way down this page.

https://www.thecanineconsultants.co.uk/post/separation-anxiety-fact-vs-fiction

 

[Flumpkin]

You could try the large crate or you can get dog play pens that you can make pretty much as big as you want (they come in joinable pieces) just to keep him away from things. You will only be leaving him for moments to start with so messing in it shouldn’t be a problem.

Before you start leaving him, it’s a good idea to build up to it by playing Emma Judson’s Flitting Game, described about 2/3 of the way down this page.

https://www.thecanineconsultants.co.uk/post/separation-anxiety-fact-vs-fiction

Thank you I have taken a look. So I need to work on the flitting between rooms really before introducing the large crate? Sorry to ask so many questions… just don’t want to get it wrong! Xx

We do have 2 dog play pens that we clip together to make a safe reasonable area outside that area fab, but it is about 3 ft high (I can only just climb into it) and it won’t be long before he jumps it. He is a springer spaniel who has started climbing up one bar too. We use it outside but supervised, (when I am on calls with work, I am currently working at the garden table under a gazebo! feeling like I live in the garden…) Don’t worry he does get time in house too.
Thanks
Flump x

 

[JudyN]

I would start leaving him in his crate (as he is used to it and happy in it) for 2 mins, 4 ins, 5 mins... You say that you ignore him if he barks and whines - ideally, he should be content to be in there, and not feel the need to bark or whine. This may be fine if he is genuinely just after attention and not distressed, but not something you want if he is feeling abandoned.

Once he's comfortable with you leaving for a few minutes, you could introduce him to the larger crate if you want him to have more freedom when you go out (leaving him in the bigger crate straight away would be two changes for him to adapt to). Personally I wouldn't worry too much about toileting - only leave him when he's well exercised and has emptied himself and as you build up to leaving him for longer, his bowel/bladder will also mature and be able to go longer.

Lots more about separation anxiety here: Separation anxiety

 

[Flumpkin]

I would start leaving him in his crate (as he is used to it and happy in it) for 2 mins, 4 ins, 5 mins... You say that you ignore him if he barks and whines - ideally, he should be content to be in there, and not feel the need to bark or whine. This may be fine if he is genuinely just after attention and not distressed, but not something you want if he is feeling abandoned.

Once he's comfortable with you leaving for a few minutes, you could introduce him to the larger crate if you want him to have more freedom when you go out (leaving him in the bigger crate straight away would be two changes for him to adapt to). Personally I wouldn't worry too much about toileting - only leave him when he's well exercised and has emptied himself and as you build up to leaving him for longer, his bowel/bladder will also mature and be able to go longer.

Lots more about separation anxiety here: Separation anxiety

Thanks Judy, using existing crate actually makes total sense. We can already leave him and go into another room for short spells (couple of mins) so will work on building this up a little gradually. I understand what you are saying about not leaving him to whine and bark, we do respond immediately and go into the room but just don’t talk to him and then we reward as soon as quiet. My thinking being to show him I have responded and I am there but not to reward the bark? It is only a little Whimper or bark and I think is frustration more than anything? He settles as soon as he sees me?

 

[JudyN]

My thinking being to show him I have responded and I am there but not to reward the bark? It is only a little Whimper or bark and I think is frustration more than anything? He settles as soon as he sees me?

Jasper would never whine and then settle as a pup - he'd whine and build up to an absolute meltdown, which makes me err on the side of making sure the dog is content! So go with your gut - you're in the best place to decide if the whimper is 'I'd much rather be with you and taking up every moment of your life' - which it sounds like - or 'I'm really not happy but Mum doesn't respond to my cries which makes me even more anxious.'

 

[excuseme]

It sounds to me as if your puppy is caged for convenience and only comes out for potty needs and when it is convenient for yourself!
I may sound harsh and blunt, but I am not a great lover of using cages for our canine pets. I do agree that they have their uses, but it sounds to me as if your puppy is being cage trained during the daytime as well as all night!
If you want a caged animal, then maybe get a rabbit or a guinea pig!
Our dogs and puppies are social animals and should be able to have freedom of movement.
Our Springers and Cockers are very energetic type dogs, too much caged life is asking for a bored and over excited and frustrated dog.

I am not picking on you just because i can.
I do think cages are often used for a convenience, and when not enough thought is put into the up bringing and general welfare.

Please correct me if I have misread or misunderstood your post .

 

[JudyN]

It sounds to me as if your puppy is caged for convenience and only comes out for potty needs and when it is convenient for yourself!

To be fair, Flumpkin says that apart from nights, pup only goes in it for brief timeouts and naps (and not all naps). And with a puppy who eats everything and an open-plan house, that sounds perfectly reasonable to me - much better than having to deal with the consequences if pup should eat a pen or a sock when you pop to the loo for a couple of minutes, or if the dog makes a determined bid to escape from a puppy pen or similar large enclosure. And you can't be with a pup 24/7 if you also want to avoid separation anxiety.

Yes, of course, some people use crates for their own convenience and leave the dogs in there and unable to behave naturally for far too long, but crates can still be very useful tools. Not that I used one for Jasper, but he didn't tend to eat everything he could get hold of, really didn't like being in the crate, wasn't a jumper/escape artist, and we were able to dog-proof a whole room and put a stairgate across.

 

[Flumpkin]

To be fair, Flumpkin says that apart from nights, pup only goes in it for brief timeouts and naps (and not all naps). And with a puppy who eats everything and an open-plan house, that sounds perfectly reasonable to me - much better than having to deal with the consequences if pup should eat a pen or a sock when you pop to the loo for a couple of minutes, or if the dog makes a determined bid to escape from a puppy pen or similar large enclosure. And you can't be with a pup 24/7 if you also want to avoid separation anxiety.

Yes, of course, some people use crates for their own convenience and leave the dogs in there and unable to behave naturally for far too long, but crates can still be very useful tools. Not that I used one for Jasper, but he didn't tend to eat everything he could get hold of, really didn't like being in the crate, wasn't a jumper/escape artist, and we were able to dog-proof a whole room and put a stairgate across.

 

[Flumpkin]

Thanks Judy. I really don’t use a crate for convenience and I am with Max all day and night every day. My husband is currently unwell and unable to help and I work. He sleeps in a crate with me in the room (10:30-5:30) and goes in on his own accord to settle for the night. I pop him in for quick timeouts when hanging off my clothes, literally seconds. And an odd nap. He spends most of his time running around garden and house with me removing stuff from his mouth. I only pop him in large pen with toys when I can’t get to remove unsafe stuff immediately like if on a call.

I love both my dogs and cat very much. Have never even kenneled my dog for a holiday as he is part of family. I am doing my absolute best on my own and just came on here for advice not judgement. My only aim is to keep them safe and to bring them up right.

So thanks for the helpful judgement excuseme. Your care and help are appreciated.

I would like to thank the many lovely people who have given me constructive advice. It is why I joined so thank you x